Suction-pipe for dredges.



No. 657,567. Patented Sept.,l|, I900. A. W. ROBINSON. SUCTION PIPE' FOB OREDGES.

(Application filed Dec. 8, 1699.)

2 'Sheets-She et I.

(No Model.)

wvemtoz O No. 657,567. Patented Sept. II, I900.

A. W. ROBINSON.

SUCTION PIPE FOR DREDGES.

(Application filed Dec. 8, 1899.) (No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

/Vwneaou r Wfiwventoz UNITED. STATES 1 PATENT V ARTHUR W. ROBINSON, OFMILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN.

SUCTION-PIPEiFOR DREDGES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 657,567, dated September 11, 1900.

Application filed December 8, 1899. serial No- 739,619. (No model.)

To (ZZZ whom, itmayconcern:

Be it known that I, ARTHUR W. ROBINSON, a citizen of the Dominion of Canada, and a resident of Milwaukee, in the county of Milwau kee and. Stateof Wisconsin, have invented certain new and,useful Improvements in Suc tion-Pipes for Dredges, of which the following is a description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a plan view of the suction-pipe shown attached to a vessel, the sides of which are indicated by a single line. Fig. 2 is a plan view, partly in section, showing the socket whereby the suction-pipe is attached to the sides of the vessel. Fig. 3 is a detail of the upper flexible joint. Fig. 4 is a detail in plan of the central flexible joint. Fig. 5 is an elevation in section, on the medial line of the suction tubing, of the central flexible section as shown in Fig. 4. Fig. 6 is a detail in elevation of the drag at the lower endof-the pipe.

The invention relates .to that type of hydraulic dredges employed in the deepening of ocean bars or river-ways in'which the dredges ordinarily ha ve compartments or tanks within tanks within the vessel,in which'the solid mat ter settles to the bottom and the more fluid portion after settlement is allowed to escape overboard. After the tanks or compartments within the dredge are filled with comparatively-solid material the drag and suction-pipe are hoisted from the bottom. The vessel is then propelledto a suitable place, either but at sea or at some other desired point, where the material contained within its tanks is pumped overboard or otherwise discharged.

The suction-pipe which constitutes the subject-matter of this invention extends from the side of the vessel tothe bottom, and, as before stated, drags upon it as thedredge is slowly propelled. Since these dredges are usually employed in the open sea or upon large bodies of water, they almost always encounter considerable sea at the time oft-heir use. It is therefore necessary to provide suitable flexibility in the suction-pipe,while preserving the necessary strength and alinement in the pipe toenable it to perform its functions without injury.

The purpose of this invention is to provide a suction-pipe adapted for use under the conditions described above better than any form known heretofore, and it embodies devices whereby lateral and also vertical flexibility'is provided-for at two poi'ntsfirst,,at or near its point of attachment to the dredge, and, second, at or near the middle of its length, where it is likely tobe strained under the bilge of the vessel or dredge. This latter is of great importance, for when dredging the vessel is likely to drift sidewise to a consid- ,erable extent because of the tide and Wind,

vessel, whereby the eye-socket isclamped firmly in position. The sideof the vessel is illustrated at H.

g is a split annulus or ring which rests against the inner end of the eye-socket D and engages with an annular rib Icon the part C,

so that it is permanently held in place, yet is capable of a swiveling action.

L is a tubular casting to which the dis charge-pipe into the interior of the vessel is connected in suitable manner. M is another casting which acts as a stuffing-box, N being the follower for the stuffing-box, whereby leakage within the-vessel is prevented.

Lateral flexibility of the suction-pipe at or near the elbow is provided bya double-hinged joint between the elbow A and the first sec- 'iion of thesnction-ipipe proper. 'lheseiparts are preferably made of; steel and g fe l:

mq Uponthe sides of the elbow A- are cast or forged two outwardly-projecting arms 0 O,

which are bifurcated at their ends, as shown, S V

P P are corresponding arms which are cast,

, or forged upon a"tubu lar. -section Q and. the

arms P P enter between the forks or bifurcated ends of the arms O 0, where they: areconnected by pins and R.' .A flexible sec; tion of hose, made of rubber, canvas,, or other suitable materialor combination of materials,

as preferred, (illustrated "at S,) is-passed over the projecting end of the elbow and also over the projecting end 'of' the first section of the suction pipe U and is suitably fastened totheseprojecting ends,.so that-as thejointf moves the rubber hose will give, andtakeas required, maintaining always a continuous pipe for the passage of theexcavated material.-

7 V (seeparticularlyFig. 1). isthe uppersee-j tion 'ofsthe suction fpipe.

universal-joint connection-that is to say,

a is a casting fastened'upon the end of; the

pipe-section Vin any suitable manner, fishy riveting, clamping, beingforced on by .hy- I.

draulic pressu re,.or otherwise.v At its side there is an upwardly-projecting ribfb, composed of two side parts and a. forward cross-bar a. (See Fig. 5.) On the underside t hereare two lugs d, which are projected lat er ally, sovthat theyare. abouttas'farapait as g the diameter of the pipe; On the adjaeentend ofth'e" pipe-.seetionW there is another; casting e e, provided "on itsupper partwith; adiagenally-rising web fysupport-ed by lateral-ribsf g, the endof which, is bifurcjated,as

shown, and which engages with thecross-bar c upon'the casting a. sh0wn, to lugs i '71 on-tlie casti ng f, which passes around-the {cross-bar c of the casting;

A link h is bolted,

a, so that oscillatory movement is permitted at this joint in all, direetionS, While longitir' dinal separation. is prevented. j

- On the. under sideof the casting f is a washer m, which confines a spring n tween it and the lugs As before statfifih I there is one of these bolts at each side of'the emoved. I o e t e othe iha d, heflexure' It is preferably. {made of, steel, and it is connected with (he lower section W by what may be called; a-

t ei'ee 9 k, h o g h ch pass bol s- Z, ueen 1 c de, a d0 o ie' nd1 f these boltthane tween I the vertical I ori zontal then one 'th'anth'e' other, and it exerts ifs 'p'owen'which fisverybonsiderable, to straightenthe. pipe about th'e cenIer of the pipe, but also that the thatthere. willbe a constant tendency to-retur i ot-mig ,1ines "0 he Q 0 th nor' nal or central posi'tion;,.-"lhis is'ac'complished very effectively b'ykthe construction above described; Thetensi'on'of the springs isadjustable mean s of the. in ms, asshewn, to adapt; the apparatus to" the special work' "The pipeisfinspendedfnear itsl'ower end byafiling-ehain '19, (see Fig. 1,); which con- 15, which is. clamped" or ,other'wisejfastened' at the lower end ofthe suction-pipelf 1f -The dragr'u is'or maybe connected tothe flower endlof the suction-pipe. in anysuitable manner, "I t-p'refer to connect-Vitby a hingejoint-at the 11 ppm: side; wherebyit is attached two flangesjs s -on, the lower castingfit-"two "O 111 dmgi and j a cro pivot: The dragjs-prov ded with a flange y its fbase :which rests' against asimil'ar "flanges. QnQthecasting t, and these two jflajnges ai :ednnect'ed}together'by a series of house, .a b";is a metallic plate. con heated with theflangey,'-;w hich causes the drag to. T de unon'thef bottom. or material to be exca- .vate

a itievicej for openingasdoore in the upper watenwhenl-necessary? "In this part of the apparatus, is embodiedfanother invention, ,WhiQhIdQ .1013, here describe, since it forms the su ject-m er Of an additio app tion for Letters Patent, which I am about to The'operation of the apparatus as thus far described has: already been fully explained. I desire, however, to makethe following general explanation The pipe as a whole during the hoisting and lowering'oscillates on the swiveling, lbow and coacting parts, wherebyit isgattached to the fvessel at its free vertical movement at three points-first, at the} swiveling-elbow, as:above'stated; second, atthe arln connection adjacent-to the elbowmnd, third, atthe universal joint about midway-of its length, and it hasfree lateral xno ement at; the last-named place, whe "flexureof thepipe' under the bilge of the vesgrit thelsptin'gs is put" under"gjreateritension against'notonlythe vertical, but the lateral bends; This'lregard as an important feature Ent ty inventiomsince it is-necessarylnotonly that there be "flexibilityinall directions at.

flexibility shall bezprovided in such a way :n-eets with a bail or equivalent device q, piv-I Otd n pol jabolt,\vhicli =passes through holes 7 "7", (see Fig.6,) made inflflanges s on a casting to thecasting t -thatfis to say, between the upwardly-projecting webs airmen-form part 7 pin flU acts as 1 the I upper end, and when it? is in operation it has d; cic" are the usual teeth constituting the e i t tin ldfiviee effit 1 dimgtwherebythe mat, is; hee ava d bmke is Ito ' rear portionofy the-drag to provide flushing sel is necessary. The joint at this place is not only universal, but, as before stated, is of such a character that the pipe automatically straightens itself'irrespective of the angle at which the fiexure has been made.

Although I have described my invention and illustrated it as applied to a dredge operating when in motion and provided. with hoppers or puddling-tanks, it will be understood that my improvements are equally ap plicable to dredges used when at anchor and when loading into scows. Also the lower end of my suction-pipe is sometimes fitted with a suctionnozzle instead of a drag, and the swiveling elbow which I have described as located in the side of the vessel may be located on deck or otherwise supported, and it may be provided with a single piece of plain suction-pipe without any drag or intermediate flexibility. The purpose of the invention in this respect is to provide a strong and positive hinge connection without depending upon the suction-hose for strength or for any service other than that of merely conducting the material. In machines of this class heretofore in use a strong suction-hose was necessary, reinforced usually by sling-chains and relative positions, and a spring coacting-with the parts which constitute the universal joint adapted to resist deflection of the pipe from which are strained by flexure of the pipe, for the purposes set forth.

5. In a suction 'pipe a joint between two adjoining sections thereof embodying terminal devices on the exterior of the ends of the sections respectively, provided with arms projecting therefrom, which arms engage with flexible material, a spring or springs con necting the ends of the pipe opposite said projecting arms and on the exterior thereof, which resist any flexure of the pipe, and a flexible tubular material connecting the ends of the each other at about the medial line of the to the dredge, a joint adapted to horizontal movement near the elbow-joint, a universal joint about midway of the pipe, and a drag at the lower end of the pipe, for the purposes set forth.

2. The combination with other parts composing a suction-pipe, of parts attached to the exterior of the ends of the pipe-sections which constitute a universal joint and whereby the ends of the sections are maintained in proper the pipe and two spring-actuated points of support near the lower arc thereof, and a drag on the end of the pipe, for the purposes set forth.

Signed at South Milwaukee, in the county of Milwaukee and State of Wisconsin, this 17th day of October, 1899.

ARTHUR W. ROBINSON.

Witnesses:

JOSEPH G. DAVIES, J. M. MILLMAN. 

